Methods and apparatus to meter video game play

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus to meter video game play are described. An example apparatus to meter video game play includes a tag to be attached to a video game controller, the tag having a sensor to detect a user interaction with the video game controller. The apparatus also includes a meter to receive information reflecting the user interaction.

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent claims priority from U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 60/936,390, filed on Jun. 20, 2007, entitled “Methods andApparatus to Meter Video Game Play,” which is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media monitoring and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus to meter video game play.

BACKGROUND

Consuming media presentations (e.g., audio and/or video presentations)generally involves listening to audio information and/or viewing videoinformation. Media presentations may include, for example, radioprograms, music, television programs (free, satellite, cable, internetprotocol television (IPTV), etc.), movies, still images, recorded media(e.g., Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), personal video recorder), playback,video games, etc. Media-centric companies and/or metering entities suchas, for example, advertising companies, broadcast networks, etc. areoften interested in the viewing, listening, and/or media behaviorinterests of audience members to better market their products and/or toimprove their programming. Techniques used to monitor and/or measure thebehavior of audience members often include the use of diaries/logsand/or one or more metering devices.

Metering devices may be carried by audience members and/or placed on ornear a television and/or other monitored presentation device. Such ameter may include one or more sensors to detect and/or collect audioand/or video content in, for example, the audience member's household,such as in a family room that has a television, cable and/or satelliteset-top unit, VCR, stereo, video game console, etc. The one or moresensors may detect and/or collect audio codes, video codes, signatures,channel tuning and/or changes, audience member movement, and/or remotecontrol (e.g., infra-red (IR) sensors) inputs. To determine whichprogram the household member is consuming, the meter may collect codesembedded or otherwise associated with the presented media and/orsignatures (e.g., audio samples of the media to which the audiencemember is exposed) and send such codes and/or signatures to a centraloffice and/or metering entity. The central office utilizes collectedcode(s) to index a lookup table to perform media content identification,and/or compares the collected signatures to one or more databases ofreference signatures to determine a match to identify the media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for metering game play.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are profile views of an example game tag for use withthe system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example game tag for use with the systemof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example tag meter for use with thesystem of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flow diagrams representative of example machinereadable instructions that may be executed to implement the examplesystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram representative of example machine readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example tag meter ofFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Video game play may be monitored by asking selected households and/orcorresponding audience members to keep a log and/or diary of activitywhen using a video game console. However, such demands may be viewed asinvasive and/or cumbersome to the audience members. In general, theexample methods and apparatus illustrated herein may be used tounobtrusively monitor video game activity of one or more audiencemembers. The example methods and apparatus illustrated herein may bewell suited for monitoring one or more game controllers communicativelycoupled to a game console via control wire(s) and/or controllers thatwirelessly communicate with the game console. Turning to FIG. 1, anexample system 100 to meter video game play is shown. The example system100 of FIG. 1 is adapted to monitor game play on a media presentationdevice 102 (e.g., a television, a monitor, etc.) operatively connectedto a video game console 104. In the illustrated example shown in FIG. 1,the video game console 104 is operatively connected to wire-basedcontrollers 106, 108 having wires 109 communicatively coupling thecontrollers 106 to the console 104, and to a wireless controller 110that sends game control signals to the video game console 104 wirelessly(e.g., using radio frequency (RF) signals). Each controller 106, 108,110 includes one or more buttons 112, switches, and/or joysticks 114 toallow a user to control game play, such as directional game charactermotion via the joystick. Other types of controllers such as the Wii®nunchuck controller, a simulated golf club controller, etc., couldalternatively be used and can be monitored in an analogous manner tothat described below (e.g., via an attached game tag).

The user may initiate any type of game with the example game console 104via a media input port 116. Video game console manufacturers providegame media in several formats including, but not limited to, compactdisk (CD) read only memory (ROM) disks, digital versatile disks (DVDs),game cartridges, memory cards/sticks, intranet connections (e.g., localarea networks, etc.), and/or Internet connections. The game console 104may be implemented by, for example, any of the X-Box® or X-Box 360® byMicrosoft®, the PlayStation® (e.g., the PlayStation I, II, or III) bySony®, and/or the Gamecube® or Wii® by Nintendo®.

In the illustrated example shown in FIG. 1, each controller 106, 108,110 includes an attachable game tag 118 to detect if and/or when theuser is interacting with the controller 106, 108, 110. The example gametag(s) 118 include a motion sensor, discussed in further detail below,to detect orientation, tilt, and/or acceleration forces applied to thecontroller 106, 108, 110. The game tag(s) 118 may attach to the wiredcontrollers 106, 108 by clamping on or around the wire 109. The gametag(s) 118 may attach to the wireless controllers 110 by, for example,an adhesive material, Velcro® strip, and/or other connectors, brackets,etc.

Signals indicative of controller motion may be wirelessly transmittedfrom the game tag(s) 118 and received by a game tag meter 120. In theillustrated example, each of the game tag(s) 118 includes anidentification code so that, in the likely event multiple controllersare associated with the game console 104, activity from each controller106, 108, 110 may be independently identified. Independentidentification of multiple controllers allows a determination of howmany individuals are participating in game play with the example gameconsole 104 and how each member is using the controller. The wirelesstransmission from each game tag 118 may include an RF signal of any typeincluding, but not limited to, Bluetooth® signals and/or WiFi® signals.Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transmission from each gametag 118 may include ultrasonic signal(s) or optical signal(s) (e.g.,infra-red (IR)). RF signals may propagate through one or more walls,thus potentially become detected by an example game tag meter 120 inanother room. On the other hand, ultrasonic and/or optical transmissionsmay reduce and/or eliminate the possibility of one or more game tags 118located in alternate rooms (e.g., adjacent room(s), adjacentapartment(s), adjacent dorm-room(s), etc.) from communicating with theexample game tag meter 120 and, thus, reduces the likelihood of errantdetections. To the extent that the methods and apparatus describedherein include specific type(s) of signal(s), such descriptions are usedfor ease of explanation and not meant to exclude usage of other signaltypes.

A battery located within the game tag 118 provides power to the game tag118. The game tag 118 is constructed to detect motion and to storemotion data indicative of the detected motion for a correspondingcontroller 106, 108, 110. The example game tag 118 is also structured totransmit signals representative of the motion data to the game tag meter120. To conserve battery power consumption, the example game tag(s) 118may be adapted to transmit a burst of energy (e.g., RF energy such as aBluetooth® signal, a WiFi® signal, an ultrasonic signal, an IR signal,etc.) once every x unit(s) of time (e.g., once every five minutes).However, any other time threshold may be employed (e.g., to accommodatefor one or more battery types and/or number of batteries employed by theexample game tag 118). Additionally or alternatively, the example gametag(s) 118 may transmit only after some threshold amount of motion hasbeen detected so that battery power is not needlessly consumed bytransmitting information payloads when there is little or no motion datato report.

In the illustrated example, the game tag(s) 118 transmit game tagsignals (referred to herein as payload information) to the example gametag meter 120 which include information indicative of controller or lackthereof (e.g., a logic “1” for motion and a logic “0” for no motion), atime at which the motion detection event occurred, a magnitude and/ordirection of the detected motion, a game tag identification number,and/or an indication of available battery power associated with the gametag identification number. The information received by the example gametag meter 120 may then be transmitted to the central office and/ormetering entity via any desired communication medium (e.g., land-linemodem communication, cable modem communication (e.g., via an Internetconnection), and/or a cellular/wireless telephone connection).

FIG. 2A illustrates an example implementation of any one of the examplegame tag(s) 118 of FIG. 1. In a preferred example, the form factor ofthe game tag 118 is more cylindrical than shown in FIG. 2A. Inparticular, the form factor of a preferred example is similar to a cordmount ferrite filter used on the power cored of, for example, a personalcomputer. In the illustrated example of FIG. 2A, the game tag 118 isannular. More specifically, the tag 118 has a front side 202, a backside 204, and is generally circular in shape with a centrally locatedhole 206 to allow the controller wire 109 to pass there through. Forpurposes of illustration, the example centrally located hole 206 isshown to be larger than the diameter of the controller wire 109, but thediameter of the centrally located hole 206 is preferably configured suchthat an interference fit securely fastens the example game tag 118 tothe controller wire 109. Additionally or alternatively, grommets,malleable filler material, and/or other padding material may besecurably attached to the wall defining the centrally located hole 206to achieve a relatively tight interface fit between the game tag 118 andthe controller wire 109. Such added interface material may be used toconform the tag 118 to one or more different sizes of wire 109. Theexample game tag 118 is shown in FIG. 2A as having a generally circularshape for illustrative purposes only. The game tag 118 may beimplemented with any desired shape.

The example game tag 118 of FIG. 2A also includes locking tabs 208 tofacilitate attachment and/or removal of the game tag 118 to/from theexample controller wire 109. For example, the game tag 118 may separateinto two halves with each side operatively coupled at a common boundary210. FIG. 2B illustrates the back side 204 of the example game tag 118of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2B, the rear side of the example tag 118includes two additional locking tabs 208 that ensure both halves of thetag 118 remain securely fastened to the controller wire 109 duringoperation. By way of illustration, not limitation, the tag 118 mayalternatively employ hinges in place of the locking tabs 208.

Returning to FIG. 2A, a tag circuit 212 is attached to or embeddedwithin the example game tag 118. In the illustrated example, the circuit212 includes a housing, power supply (e.g., batteries), and circuitry todetect motion, orientation, tilt, and/or acceleration. While the user isengaged with video game play, some of the motions/forces induced by theuser with the game controller 106, 108, 110 propagate along thecontroller wire 109 and are imparted to the game tag 118. On the otherhand, for wireless game controllers, such as the example wireless gamecontroller 110 of FIG. 1, at least some of the motions/forces induced bythe user are imparted directly to the example game tag 118 (which isattached to the wireless controller 110 via, for example, glue, Velcro®,etc.). In the illustrated example of FIG. 2A, the tag circuit 212detects motion(s) and/or force(s) and saves detected motion(s) and/orforce(s) in a memory. Upon expiration of a periodic timer (e.g., everyfive minutes), the tag circuit 212 measures a current battery capacity,retrieves the motion data from the memory, and transmits the payloadinformation to the tag meter 120.

As discussed in further detail below, the tag circuit 212 of theillustrated example employs one or more types of motion sensors. Thetype(s) of sensor(s) employed depends on the granularity of the datadesired. For example, the sensor(s) may simply detect movement andprovide only an indication that some unspecified motion occurred.Additionally or alternatively, the motion sensor(s) of the tag circuit212 may comprise accelerometers oriented along different axes to, forexample, measure an acceleration for an x-axis, a y-axis, and/or az-axis. Additionally or alternatively, the motion sensor(s) of the tagcircuit 212 may include a digital compass to measure a change inorientation of the example game tag 118 as induced by user movement ofthe controller 106, 108, 110.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate the example tag circuit 212 of FIG. 2Ain greater detail. In the illustrated example of FIG. 3A, the tagcircuit 212 includes a motion sensor 302, a filter 304, a memory 306, atimer 308, a processor 310, and a power supply 312. Additionally, theexample tag circuit 212 of FIG. 3A includes an encoder 314 and atransceiver 316 a. In the illustrated example, the transceiver 316 aincludes an RF modulator 318 a, an RF receiver 320, and an antenna 322.As discussed in further detail below, the example tag circuit 212 may beconfigured to both transmit and receive information, or may beconfigured only to transmit information that is, for example, indicativeof game play motion(s). In the latter case, the example transceiver 316a includes the RF modulator 318 a and the antenna 322, but excludes thereceiver 320.

As described above, ultrasonic and/or optical signals may be employed tocommunicate to/from the example tag circuit 212. Accordingly, theexample tag circuit 212 may employ, additionally or alternatively, anoptical transceiver 316 b (as illustrated in FIG. 3B) and/or an acoustictransceiver 316 c (as illustrated in FIG. 3C). In the illustratedexample of FIG. 3B, the optical transceiver 316 b includes a modulator318 b, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 324, and a photodetector326. The example modulator 318 b may include an operational amplifier(OpAMP) to, for example, drive the LEDs 324 in response to signals fromthe processor 310. The example processor 310 may be directly connected317 to the example modulator 318 b of the optical transceiver 316 b.

Additionally or alternatively, tag circuits 212 that employ acousticsignals (e.g., ultrasonic) for communication to/from the example gametag meter 120 may include an acoustic transceiver 316 c. In theillustrated example of FIG. 3C, the example acoustic transceiver 316 cincludes an acoustic source 328 (e.g., an ultrasonic transducer, aspeaker, etc.), and an acoustic detector 330 (e.g., a microphone). Theexample acoustic transceiver 316 c may also include one or more filters332 to filter-out ambient noise/signals not associated withcommunication between the game tag 118 and the game tag meter 120.

The example motion sensor 302 of FIG. 3A may be of any type including,but not limited to, a single or multi-axis accelerometer, a tilt sensor,and/or a magnetic compass. An audience member holding a game controller106, 108, 110 will typically shake, tilt, and/or otherwise move thecontroller 106, 108, 110. Such movements may be intended to be convertedinto electronic signals by the controller (e.g., the Wii® nunchuck) ormay result from adjusting a joystick 114 and/or pressing button(s) 112.Some games elicit relatively fast movements from the audience member andtest the audience member's hand/eye coordination (for example,first-person shooter combat games). In these and/or other examples,audience members may induce relatively strong forces on the controller106, 108, 110 (e.g., when attempting to shoot, attack, and/or defend acharacter in the first-person shooter game). Relatively strong forcesinduced on the game controller 106, 108, 110 may also be caused byelements of surprise. Relatively moderate forces may be induced on thegame controller by the audience member when playing, for example,driving and/or flying games. For example, forces induced on the gamecontroller 106, 108, 110 during a driving game may include relativelysmooth movement transitions from left to right, and/or vice-versa, whilethe audience member attempts to steer the game vehicle through a trackand/or obstacle course. Of course, relatively strong forces may beinduced by the audience member on the example controller 106, 108, 110when, for example, the vehicle veers out of virtual control and crashes,but such moments of relatively strong audience member induced forcestend to be less frequent with driving/flying games than withfirst-person shooter games.

Additionally, some games may include very few moments in which theaudience member induces one or more strong and/or moderate forces (e.g.,rapid tilting and/or shaking, etc.) on the example controller 106, 108,110. For example, strategy-based video games and/or video games relatedto traditional board games, such as, for example, Monopoly®, typicallyinvolve a relatively gentle manner of control with the examplecontroller 106, 108, 110.

While the example motion sensor 302 of FIG. 3 may include one or moretransducers and/or sensors to provide an indication of movement, tilt,and/or orientation, some transducers and/or sensors may, additionally oralternatively, provide an indication of the magnitude of the movement.In the event that the example motion sensor 302 includes one or moreaccelerometers, then acceleration forces in one or more directions maybe measured. Some accelerometers may provide acceleration force datawith respect to a single axis of movement and/or rotation. Multipleaccelerometers may be incorporated into the motion sensor 302 so thateach axis of movement (e.g., an x-axis 302 x, a y-axis 302 y, a z-axis302 z, one or more axes of rotation, etc.) may be monitored. In suchexamples, each of the accelerometers may produce a voltage that isproportional to the corresponding force it detects. Any desired type ofaccelerometer may be employed, without limitation (e.g., piezoelectricaccelerometers, capacitive accelerometers, piezoresistiveaccelerometers, etc.).

In operation, the example motion sensor 302 collects the force and/ororientation data from one or more accelerometers 302 x, 302 y, 302 z andsaves such data in the memory 306. Before, during, and/or after savingdata to the example memory 306 that is indicative of motion of the tagcircuit 212 (and, thus, motion of the game controller 106, 108, 110),the processor 310 retrieves a time-stamp from the example timer 308 andassociates the same with the motion data. The example timer 308 may be areal-time clock that is set and/or calibrated by a metering entitybefore sending the game tag to the audience monitored household (whichmay be statistically selected to represent a population (e.g.,demographic) group of interest). Alternatively or additionally, theexample timer and/or real-time clock 308 may be an integral function ofthe processor 310 such as, for example, the PIC10F200 8-bit flashmicrocontroller by Microchip®.

The example processor 310 takes one or more measurements from theexample motion sensor 302. These measurements may be taken at periodicand/or predetermined times. The example processor 310 may save onlythose measurements that meet and/or exceed a threshold value. Thethreshold may be a magnitude of force threshold and/or a duration (time)of sustained movement threshold. For example, the example processor 310may ignore motion data from the example motion sensor 302 if themagnitude of the measured forces do not exceed a particular forcemagnitude value, thereby masking force data that may be associated withgame controller movement that corresponds to non-game-play activities.Non-game-play activities may include, but are not limited to, moving theexample game controller 106, 108, 110 within an entertainment console toaccess other entertainment media and/or media devices. In the event thatthe example game controller 106, 108, 110 is stored in a cabinet of anentertainment console that also houses a collection of DVDs, CDs, and/orVHS tapes, then an audience member may inadvertently and/or purposefullymove the game controller 106, 108, 110 out of the way to access the oneor more DVDs, CDs, and/or VHS tapes. Accordingly, the example processor310 may compare the magnitude(s) of the force(s) associated with suchsmall movement(s) to one or more thresholds and prevent them from beingsaved to the memory 306 of the example tag circuit 212 if thethreshold(s) are not exceeded. Ignoring brief movements surrounded bylong period of inactivity can similarly be used to screen non-playactivity.

Additionally or alternatively, the example processor 310 may employ thefilter 304 to mask one or more forces that are not associated withmotions created by the audience member during game play. For example,some controllers 106, 108, 110 are provided with haptic technology,which seeks to provide the audience member with a tactile sensationduring game-play. Haptic technologies are sometimes referred to as“force feedback,” “haptic feedback,” and/or a “RumblePak®,” which is aterm used by Nintendo® for some of their controllers. Game scenariosthat invoke one or more haptic forces include, but are not limited to, agame character being struck by enemy gun-fire and/or crashing a vehicleinto a wall of a race track. In response to one or more such scenarios,the example controller 106, 108, 110 may vibrate and/or shake within thehand(s) of the audience member. Vibration forces may be created by, forexample, one or more electric motors within the example controller 106,108, 110 that spin one or more weights in an eccentric path. The examplefilter 304 may be tuned to one or more frequencies exhibited by thehaptic force(s) to differentiate between forces associated with thehaptic technology and/or forces potentially caused by audience membermovement(s).

The example tag circuit 212 may collect data indicative of audiencemember game play for a predetermined time period and then send suchcollected data to the example tag meter 120 via a signal (e.g., RF,acoustic, optic). For example, the example timer 308 may send a signalto the processor 310 every five-minutes to prompt the processor 310 toretrieve saved motion data (if any) from the memory 306. In theillustrated example of FIG. 3, the processor 310 also measures acapacity of the power supply 312 before sending the signal (e.g., RF,acoustic, optic) to the tag meter 120. The power supply 312 may includeone or more batteries that provide power to the tag circuit 212 and maybe serviceable by the audience member, or require that the audiencemember send and/or receive a new game tag 118 and/or tag circuit 212when the battery power drops below a threshold value. The processor 310employs the encoder 314 to encode a data payload that includes, forexample, the battery capacity, the motion data indicative of audiencemember game play stored in the memory 306 including the associatedtime(s) of the detected motion event(s), and/or a tag circuit 212identification number, which may be stored in the memory 306. Theidentification number associated with the tag circuit 212 may be unique(e.g., a manufacturer may assign each tag circuit a unique alphanumericidentifier) or locally unique to the game console 104 or householdthereof (e.g., the tag circuits sent to a household are unique to eachother but may be reused in other households). The encoder 314 sends theencoded payload to the transceiver 316, which modulates the encodedpayload with the RF modulator 318 and transmits an RF signal of thepayload via the antenna 322.

Additionally or alternatively, the example tag circuit 212 may include areceiver 320 that receives a signal from the tag meter 120 requestingthat a payload be sent. For example, to promote preservation of batterypower, the example tag circuit 212 may be configured to only sendpayload data in response to one or more instances of audience game playbeing detected by the motion sensor 302. Game consoles 104 may not beused by audience members on a daily basis. Indeed, such game consoles104 may not be used for several days and/or weeks. As such, rather thanthe tag circuit 212 transmitting a chirp (e.g., an RF chirp, anultrasonic chirp, an optical chirp) every, for example, five minutes tomaintain an updated awareness of tag circuit 212 functionality (e.g.,sufficient battery power), the tag meter 120 may initiate a payloadrequest once per day, once per week, etc.

If the battery capacity of the power supply 312 drops below a thresholdlevel, the metering entity may send a new game tag 118, one or more newbatteries, and/or a new tag circuit 212 to the household. Similarly, ifthe tag circuit 212 fails to transmit payload information and/or failsto respond to one or more requests to transmit payload information viathe example receiver 320, then the metering entity may, by default, sendone or more new game tag(s) 118, one or more new batteries, and/or newtag circuit(s) 212 to the household. In the event a new tag is sent, itmay be accompanied by instructions to install the new tag and return theold tag (e.g., via a pre-addressed postage paid package).

FIG. 4 illustrates the example tag meter 120 of FIG. 1 in greaterdetail. In the illustrated example of FIG. 4, the tag meter 120 includesan RF transceiver 401, which includes an antenna 402 and a receiver 404to receive RF signals from one or more game tag(s) 118. As describedabove in view of FIG. 3, the example RF transceiver 401 may,additionally or alternatively, be replaced with or supplemented with anacoustic transceiver and/or an optical transceiver (e.g., to alleviateany complexities caused by RF signals traveling through walls). The tagmeter 120 also includes a decoder 406 to decode and/or otherwise extractpayload information from received RF signals, and a processor 408. Theexample game meter 120 of FIG. 4 may also include an audio sensor 410(e.g., microphone) to detect audio signals associated with monitoredinformation presenting devices such as media content played on atelevision (e.g., movies, situation comedies, video game audio, etc.).Such audio data may be used to identify the program a game presented onthe information presenting device (e.g., by collecting embedded audiocodes identifying the content and/or collecting one or more signaturesrepresentative of the content.) Additionally or alternatively, theexample game meter 120 may include one or more proximity sensors 412 todetect whether audience members are present in the vicinity of the gameconsole 104 and/or the information presenting device. The detection ofthe presence of audience members can be performed using the techniquesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,181, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 4, payload data received by the gamemeter 120 (e.g., as RF signals) are sent by the processor 408 to acommunication interface 414, which is communicatively connected to themetering entity. For example, the communication interface 414 may becommunicatively connected to the metering entity via an Internetconnection, intranet connection, a land-line telephone connection, awireless telephone connection, and/or a communication network employedby a cable broadcast provider.

The example game meter 120 of FIG. 4 includes an RF modulator 416 tosend a request signal to one or more game tag(s) 118 to initiatetransmission of payload information. Additionally or alternatively,where an ultrasonic transceiver is implemented on the game meter, anultrasonic trigger may be used to send the request signal to the gametag(s) 118. Such a request may be prompted by the processor 408 thatexecutes one or more programs to monitor for time periods of no game tagreporting activity, or the request may be initiated by the meteringentity via the communication interface 414. In the illustrated exampleof FIG. 4, the RF modulator 416 allows the metering entity to determinea health status of batteries in the power supply 312, even if the gametag 118 has not been used by a household member for a relatively longperiod of time. As described above, if the game tag 118 is configured totransmit payload information (e.g., battery status information, detectedmotion events, etc.) at five-minute intervals, but only when motion isdetected, then several days or weeks may elapse without a transmissionfrom the game tag 118 to the metering entity. On the other hand, if thegame tag 118 is configured to transmit payload information everyfive-minutes even if no motion has been detected, then the batteries inthe power supply 312 of the tag circuit 212 may needlessly consumepower. To address this concern, the RF modulator 416 in the tag meter120 of the illustrated example is configured to prompt the tag circuit212 to transmit payload information upon request, thereby avoiding theneed for the game tag 118 to needlessly send battery status messagesand, thus, conserving battery power of the tag circuit 212.

Flowcharts representative of example machine readable instructions forimplementing the example system 100 of FIG. 1 are shown in FIGS. 5, 6,and 7. In these examples, the machine readable instructions comprise oneor more program(s) for execution by a processor (e.g., the processors310 or 408 of FIGS. 3 and 4), a controller, and/or any other suitableprocessing device. The program(s) may be embodied in software stored ona tangible medium such as, for example, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, afloppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or a memory(e.g., the memory 306 of FIG. 3) associated with a processor (e.g., theprocessors 310 or 408 of FIGS. 3 and 4), but all of the program(s)and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by another deviceand/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware (e.g., it may beimplemented by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a field programmable logic device(FPLD), discrete logic, etc.). For example, any or all of the filter304, the timer 308, the encoder 314, and the decoder 406 could beimplemented by software, hardware, and/or firmware. Also, some or all ofthe machine readable instructions represented by the flowcharts of FIGS.5, 6 and 7 may be implemented manually. Further, although the exampleprogram is described with reference to the flowcharts illustrated inFIGS. 5, 6 and 7, many other methods of implementing the example machinereadable instructions may alternatively be used. For example, the orderof execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocksdescribed may be changed, substituted, eliminated, or combined.

The program of FIG. 5 begins at block 502 where the example timer 308 ofthe tag circuit 212 is initiated by the processor 310. As describedabove, the timer may be configured to run for five-minute intervals, butany other time interval may be employed, as desired. For example, thetimer may run at shorter intervals when motion has recently beendetected and longer intervals when no motion has been detected for asignificant time. An example of this approach is discussed below in viewof FIG. 6.

The processor 310 next clears a status bit of a movement flag stored inthe memory 306 (block 504). For example, the tag circuit 212 may employa motion sensor to indicate movement and/or tilt. Any number of motionsensors may be employed to detect potential indications of game play bythe audience member including, but not limited to, controller tilt(e.g., via a mercury switch (and/or alternative liquid metal switch), anaccelerometer, etc.), orientation change (e.g., via an electroniccompass), and/or a magnitude of the detected motion event (e.g., one ormore acceleration force(s) measured by a multi-axis accelerometer,etc.). Accordingly, if movement is detected by the example motion sensor302 (block 506), then the processor 310 may set the movement flag in thememory 306 to a “1” or TRUE value (block 508). If movement is notdetected (block 506), then the processor determines whether the timer308 has elapsed and/or reached its time limit (block 510). If not, thencontrol returns to block 506 to continue to monitor for game tagmovement.

However, if the timer 308 expires and/or reaches its time limit (block510), then the processor 310 measures the power supply 312 to determinethe current battery capacity (block 512). The resulting capacityinformation (e.g., a voltage level of the batteries) may be saved in thememory 306 along with a timestamp indicating when that measurementoccurred. The processor 310 assembles the payload information andencodes it using the example encoder 314. That is, the processor 310extracts a unique game tag identification number from the memory 306,extracts the motion data (e.g., the movement flag, acceleration forces,etc.) from the memory 306, extracts the battery capacity informationfrom the memory 306, along with any associated time stamps, and encodesall of this payload information using the example encoder 314. Theencoded payload information is sent to the transceiver 316 a, 316 b, 316c where it is combined with a carrier (if necessary) and transmitted asa signal (e.g., an RF signal, an acoustic signal, an optical signal) tothe tag meter 120 (block 514). The processor 310 then resets the timer(block 516) and control returns to block 502 to begin another timeperiod.

As described above, if the example game tag 118 transmits a payload onceper time period (e.g., once every five minutes), then some payloadtransmissions may occur whether or not movement activity has beendetected, thereby potentially wasting battery power. FIG. 6 is aflowchart representative of example machine readable instructions forimplementing the example system 100 of FIG. 1 that avoids this potentialwaste. In the illustrated example of FIG. 6, the example tag circuit 212is configured to operate at least two timers 308, namely a first timerto prompt a payload transmission only if movement activity has beendetected, and the second timer to prompt the payload transmission at arelatively longer time period even if no movement has been detected.

For example, a first time period may be set to five minutes, in whichthe tag circuit 212 will transmit the payload information to the tagmeter only if, within that five minute period of time, movement has beendetected. As a result, battery power is conserved during relativelylonger periods of time (e.g., multiple days, weeks, etc.) in which theaudience member does not use the video game console 104 by restrictingthe frequency of payload transmissions on an occurrence basis. On theother hand, to minimize the problem of battery power dropping below acritical low-end threshold during one or more extended periods ofinactivity without notice of the same, the second timer is employed toperiodically transmit payload information at longer intervals, forexample, once every week. As a result, even if the audience member doesnot use the video game console for an extended period of time (e.g., onemonth), then the central office and/or metering entity will stillreceive an indication of the remaining battery life of each game tag 118in the household once per week. In the event that one or more of thegame tags' battery capacity drops below a threshold value (e.g., avoltage level), then the metering entity may automatically reference thehousehold address associated with the corresponding game tagidentification number from a database of tags and send one or more newgame tags or batteries to the household.

Returning to FIG. 6, timer T₁ and T₂ (308) are started (block 602) andthe example processor 310 of FIG. 3 monitors the motion sensor 302 foran indication of movement (block 604). The example timer 308 mayfacilitate any number of independently running timers and/or registersto track one or more time values. Without limitation, the functionalityof the example timer 308 may be an integral component of the exampleprocessor 310 or one or more separate timing devices. If movement is notdetected (block 604), control advances to block 608. If movement isdetected (block 604), then an indication of that movement is saved tothe memory 306 (block 606). As described above, any number of motionsensors may be employed to detect potential game play of the audiencemember. These sensor(s) may provide any desired combination of motiondata including, but not limited to, an indication of movement (e.g., aTRUE bit), an indication of no-movement (e.g., a FALSE bit), anindication of tilt (e.g., a bit set by a mercury switch (and/oralternative liquid metal switch), an accelerometer, etc.), an indicationof orientation change (e.g., a bit set by an electronic compass), and/ormagnitude(s) of the movement(s) (e.g., acceleration force(s) measured bya multi-axis accelerometer, etc.).

The processor 310 determines whether timer T₁ has elapsed (block 608)and, if so, determines if any indication of movement has occurred withinthe last time period (i.e., within time period T₁) (block 610). If not,then the tag circuit 212 does not need to transmit any payloadinformation and control advances to block 618. If movement has occurredin the last time period of T₁ (block 610), then the processor 310encodes the game tag identification number, the indication(s) ofmovement and associated time(s) that movement was detected, and anindication of the power supply battery capacity (block 612). The encodedpayload information is provided to the transceiver 316 and transmittedto the tag meter 120 via a signal (e.g., an RF signal, an acousticsignal, an optical signal) (block 614). Timer T₁ is reset (block 616)and control returns to block 604 to monitor for additional instances ofgame tag movement.

If the timer T₁ has not elapsed (block 608), control advances to block618 where the example processor 310 determines whether timer T₂ haselapsed (block 618). As described above, timer T₂ counts to a valuerelatively greater than timer T₁. For example, timer T₂ may be set toexpire at one-day intervals, multiple-day intervals, week intervals,multi-week intervals, etc. If the timer T₂ has not expired, controlreturns to block 604. At the expiration of the T₂ interval, theprocessor measures a battery capacity of the power supply 312 (block620), encodes the battery capacity information with the example encoder314, and transmits the payload information to the tag meter 120 via asignal (e.g., an RF signal, an acoustic signal, an optical signal)(block 622). Timer T₂ is reset (block 624) and control returns to block604 to monitor for instances of game tag movement. Application of T₁ andT₂ in the manner described in FIG. 6 allows the example tag circuit 212to be constructed without a need for the receiver 320. Similarly, theapplication of T₁ and T₂ in the manner described in FIG. 6 allows theexample tag meter 120 to be constructed without any need for the exampleRF modulator 416, shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram representative of example machine readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example tag meter 120of FIG. 4. The example program of FIG. 7 begins at block 702 where thetag meter 120 detects presence information (e.g., determining whetherusers or audience members are in the vicinity of the game console 104via the proximity sensors 412) and/or audio signals (e.g., informationassociated with one or more types of media, such as movies, televisionprograms, commercials, video games, etc.) via the audio sensor 410 foruse in identifying the media presented by the monitored device, whethera presentation device (e.g., a television) is on, or whether one or moreaudience member(s) are registered in, for example, a metering systemimplementing a personal meter (e.g., a people meter). The presenceinformation and/or any detected audio signals may be stored and includedin the payload that is transmitted to the metering entity or, in otherexamples, may be independently sent to the metering entity. As describedabove, the tag meter 120 may be set to initiate an exchange ofinformation (e.g., battery health, video game controller movement data,etc.) with the tag circuit 212 and/or may be set to receive atransmission from the tag circuit 212 (e.g., where the tag circuit 212initiates transmission of a payload when movement is detected by themotion sensor 302) (block 704). As described above, in other examples,the metering entity may initiate a request via the communicationinterface 414.

Where the tag meter 120 is to initiate exchanges, requests or promptsmay be sent (e.g., on a scheduled basis, on a periodic basis, uponreceipt of a manual request from the central office, etc.) to the tagcircuit 212 for a payload transmission (block 706). A lack of responsefrom the tag circuit 212 (block 708) may indicate, for example, a lowbattery health or inoperative status associated with the game tag 118,causing the tag meter 120 to transmit replacement request information(e.g., a tag identification number, an address, an account number, etc.)to the metering entity (e.g., central office), as described above. Wherea response is received from the tag circuit 212 (block 708), the tagmeter proceeds to receive the payload, which may include battery status,movement data (e.g., one or more bits indicating an acceleration,orientation, motion, tilt, magnitude, force, etc.), time information(e.g., time stamps associated with motion events), and/or tagidentification numbers. As shown in the example program of FIG. 7, thetag meter 120 may store the payload (e.g., in memory of the processor408) (block 714) and then transmit the payload to the metering entity(block 716). For instance, the payload may be stored for a period oftime before being transmitted to the metering entity or may be storeduntil the metering entity requests the payload. Additionally oralternatively, the tag meter 120 may analyze the payload (e.g., comparethe contents of the payload to a previous payload) to determine a statusof the information (e.g., whether the payload includes new information)and, in some examples, may transmit the payload depending on the status.

Returning to block 704, where the tag meter 120 is not set to initiateexchanges, the example program of FIG. 7 may determine if a payload isbeing transmitted (block 718). For example, the game tag circuit 212 maybe configured to transmit a payload to the tag meter 120 every 12 or 24hours, at which time the tag meter 120 may receive the payload (asdescribed above in connection with block 712). Further, where a payloadis not being transmitted (block 718), the tag meter 120 may determinewhether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since thetransmission of the last payload (block 720). For example, the tag meter120 may be configured (e.g., by a default or customizable setting) toset a flag indicating an unexpected period of inactivity if the tagcircuit 212 has not transmitted a payload (or an indication that no newinformation is available) during the last 48 or 72 hours. Such asituation may indicate the need for a replacement game tag 118 and/orcomponent thereof, causing the program of FIG. 7 to transmit replacementinformation to the metering entity (block 710).

Although the above examples describe the tag 118 as being coupled to thewire of a wired controller, the tag could be coupled to the body of thecontroller in a manner similar to or identical to the manner in whichthe tag is coupled to a wireless controller.

Although certain methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture havebeen described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is notlimited thereto. To the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scopeof the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine ofequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus to meter video game play,comprising: a tag adapted to be attached to a video game controller, thevideo game controller adapted to interact with a video game systemcapable of executing a plurality of video games, the tag having a sensoradapted to detect motion data related to movement of the video gamecontroller; and a meter adapted to receive the motion data from thesensor without affecting operation of the video game system, the meteradapted to attribute the motion data to a user interaction with thevideo game controller, the meter adapted to detect media identifyinginformation presented in an environment including the video gamecontroller to identify which of the plurality of video games is beingplayed via the video game controller, and adapted to combine the mediaidentifying information with the motion data received from the sensor.2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a filteradapted to identify the movement detected by the sensor as unrelated tovideo game play.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising a timer adapted to cause the tag to periodically transmit themotion data to the meter.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising a timer adapted to cause the tag to transmit the motion datato the meter when the movement has been detected by the sensor during atime interval.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metercomprises an audio sensor adapted to detect the media identifyinginformation in audio signals associated with the metered video gamesystem.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the audio signalscomprise at least one embedded audio code.
 7. An apparatus as defined inclaim 5, wherein the audio signals comprise an audio signature.
 8. Anapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the tag is removably attachedto at least one of a body of the video game controller or a wire of thevideo game controller.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinthe sensor comprises at least one of a liquid metal switch, anaccelerometer, an electronic compass, or a motion sensor.
 10. Anapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the video game controllercomprises a motion detector to control the operation of the video gamesystem.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the motiondetector is housed within the video game controller.
 12. An apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein the media identifying information identifiesa video game with which the video game controller interacts.
 13. Amethod of metering video game play, comprising: detecting a userinteraction with a video game controller via a sensor attached to a wirethat is coupled to the video game controller, wherein the sensor isattached to a portion of the wire external to a housing of the videogame controller; comparing a magnitude of a motion of the wire detectedby the sensor to a threshold; attributing the motion of the wire tovideo game play if the magnitude of the motion detected by the sensorexceeds the threshold; and transmitting one or more signalsrepresentative of the detected user interaction to a meter withoutaffecting operation of a video game system to be controlled by the videogame controller.
 14. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprisingtransmitting data from the meter to a metering entity.
 15. A method asdefined in claim 13, further comprising attributing the motion tonon-video game play if the magnitude of the motion is less than thethreshold.
 16. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprisingassociating the user interaction with an identification number assignedto the sensor.
 17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein theidentification number is at least locally unique.
 18. A method asdefined in claim 13, further comprising detecting a status of the sensorand transmitting the status of the sensor to the meter.
 19. A method asdefined in claim 18, further comprising supplying a replacement sensorif the detected status is an inoperative status.
 20. A method as definedin claim 18, wherein detecting the status comprises detecting a batterystatus.
 21. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprisingsupplying at least one replacement battery if the detected batterystatus is below a battery status threshold.
 22. A method as defined inclaim 13, wherein detecting the user interaction with the video gamecontroller comprises measuring magnitudes of movement along at leastthree axes.
 23. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the thresholdis a non-zero threshold.
 24. A method as defined in claim 13, whereinthe threshold is an amount of time and the magnitude of the motion is aduration of sustained movement.
 25. A method as defined in claim 13,further comprising attributing the detected user interaction tonon-video game play when the magnitude of the motion is below athreshold amount of time and when the sensor does not detect motionduring a first period of time immediately prior to the detected motionor during a second period of time immediately after the detected motion.26. A video game play tag, comprising: an annular housing having anaperture to receive a wire coupled to a video game controller, whereinthe annular housing comprises two semicircular interlocking halves to,when interlocked, define the aperture to receive the wire; a sensorcarried by the housing to detect a user interaction with the video gamecontroller based on a change in orientation of the housing; and atransmitter to send orientation information generated by the sensor to aremote device.
 27. A video game play tag defined in claim 26, whereinthe transmitter is to send an identification number associated with thevideo game play tag to the remote device.
 28. A video game play tag asdefined in claim 26, wherein the sensor is to detect at least one of anorientation, a tilt, a movement, or an acceleration of the housing. 29.A video game play tag as defined in claim 26, wherein the transmitterfurther comprises at least one of an optical transmitter, an acoustictransmitter, an ultrasonic transmitter, or a radio frequencytransmitter.